Wednesday, January 30, 2019

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) is recruiting the
22nd class of Waterways Conservation Officer (WCO) Trainees at its H.R.
Stackhouse School of Fishery Conservation and Watercraft Safety.
The State Civil Service Commission (SCSC) will begin accepting applications January 30 until February 19, 2019.

The class of up to 20 trainees is expected to report for training in
the summer of 2019 and graduate in the summer of 2020. The most recent
previous academy was held in 2015-2016.

Trainees will undergo an extensive 52-week training program
encompassing all aspects of conservation law enforcement. Following
civil service testing and selection, trainees will first complete a
22-week Municipal Police Officers Basic Training conducted by
Pennsylvania State Police at its Northwest Training Center in Meadville,
Crawford County. An additional 30 weeks of training is conducted at the
Stackhouse school located in Bellefonte, Centre County and includes
field training alongside seasoned WCOs. Trainees will assist with
investigations, patrol regions, participate in public outreach events
and stock waterways.

Applicants must meet the following basic criteria:

• Pennsylvania residency • Possess a valid driver’s license • Be at least 21 years of age • High School Graduate or GED • Pass a criminal history background check

Friday, March 23, 2018

This revenue is generated by the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration and Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration (PRDJ) acts from excise taxes paid by the hunting, shooting,
boating and angling industries on firearms, bows and ammunition and
sport fishing tackle, some boat engines, and small engine fuel

The funds, which are distributed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
support critical state conservation and outdoor recreation projects. To date, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has distributed more than
$20.2 billion in apportionments for state conservation and recreation
projects.

Friday, January 12, 2018

The U.S. Army Corps Engineers’
Philadelphia District released the Flow Management Plan for the Francis E.Walter Dam in White Haven, PA.

The Francis E. Walter Dam

The multi-year plan is based upon past
program performance as well as input received through stakeholders. In
2018, water will again be allocated to ensure whitewater releases from
July to late August and fisheries releases from July to early September.
Seasonal precipitation and water accumulation will be used for releases
later in the season (late August through mid-October).
In 2018, planned dates (22) for fishing releases (target 400 cubic feet per second)* are:

March: 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25, 31

April: 1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, 29

May: 5, 6, 13, 20

October: as provided by end of year release around the weekend of 6-7 October

* Release will be set to match inflow with a target release up
to 400 cfs. Inflow will not be augmented by use of storage to satisfy
the 400 cfs target.

In 2018, planned dates (24) for whitewater releases are listed
below. All other dates during the recreation season, until the weekend
of October 6-7 have a planned fisheries augmentation release of at least
50 cubic feet per second if sufficient water is available.

May: 12, 19, 26, 27

June: 9, 10, 23, 24

July: 7, 8, 21, 22, 28, 29

August: 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 25*, 26*

September: 1*, 2*

October: as provided by end of year releases around the weekend of 6-7 October

*Releases will depend on seasonal precipitation and water accumulation.

**The 6-7 October weekend release is
intended to provide a means of releasing any excess water that may have
accumulated during the recreation season. This is the last added
increment for the 2018 recreation plan. Fisheries releases through the
season will be accommodated before the final weekend (6-7 October)
release will be considered.In 2018, the Army Corps will hold a total
of 22 fishing releases and 24 whitewater release dates (four of which
are dependent on additional precipitation along with fisheries
enhancement releases on all other days during the recreation season).
All dates are dependent on hydrologic conditions and the absence of the
need for flood control operations. View plan details, including 2019 and 2020 fishing release and whitewater release dates, here.

Tuesday, December 26, 2017

For the first time in its 122-year history, the Pennsylvania Game
Commission will call its law-enforcement officers “state game wardens.”

Effective on January 1, 2018 Pennsylvania will have game wardens. Not that they didn't before, they just called them something different.

“The job titles previously used to describe our field officers – game
protector and wildlife conservation officer – didn’t fully identify
their unique and diverse responsibilities,” explained Pennsylvania Game
Commission Executive Director Bryan Burhans. “The goal here is to more
clearly identify our officers and their purpose. We believe ‘state game
warden’ will help communicate this.

“In addition, this title already is well understood by the public,”
Burhans said. “The word ‘warden’ is America’s oldest title for the men
and women who serve wildlife in this capacity.”

Since the recodification of the state’s Game and Wildlife Code in
1987, field officers were titled wildlife conservation officers. Prior
to that, they were called district game protectors. But neither title
resonated with the public. Many never associated them with Game
Commission officers
.
Game wardens are known by many different titles depending upon the
state wildlife agency for which they work. The titles reflect the
varying sets of broad duties they fulfill. Most wardens share a basic
duty to enforce the laws that regulate hunting, protect wildlife and the
environment. However, their duties extend into education, research and a
host of conservation programs.

For example, Pennsylvania game wardens coordinate and supervise
Hunter-Trapper Education programs. They also represent the agency at
conservation and sportsmen’s club meetings, respond to nuisance wildlife
complaints, and deal with injured wildlife and suspected rabid-animal
calls. Warden work also includes wildlife surveys, wildlife
trap-and-transfer, field research and providing programs to civic groups
and public schools.

“It was the variety of work, which has accompanied the position since
game protectors were defined by law in 1895, that inspired the former
titles our officers have had,” Burhans said.
While wildlife law-enforcement is a core responsibility, fulfillment
of an officer’s full range of duties requires significant training and
responsibility.

Burhans noted that the public often wonders what our game wardens do outside of the hunting season.

“There is no “off” season for our officers,” he said. “The breadth of
responsibilities is what sets game wardens apart from other traditional
law-enforcement professionals. Being a game warden requires a very
unique person willing and able develop a diversity of skills in support
of the agency.”
Burhans said renaming full-time agency officers ‘game wardens’ immediately will help the public know what these officers do.

It’s important to point out, though, that game wardens are sworn
peace officers with statewide law-enforcement authority. They are highly
trained and equipped as well as any police officer. They are expected
to know and follow standards for protecting civil rights, gathering
evidence that will hold up in court and prosecute violations of many
different laws.

“As one of the most familiar faces of our agency, it is critical that
that game wardens are recognized for who they are and what they do,”
emphasized Burhans. “Anything less is unacceptable.”

Benthic macroinvertebrates are the insects and animals that spend most,
if not all, of their lives underwater. They can be mayflies or midges,
crayfish or clams, or one of many other underwater species, and are one
of the most important parts of the food chain that fish, birds, and
other animals depend on.

“Because they spend almost their entire lives in the water, benthic
macroinvertebrates are especially attuned to water quality,” said Dustin
Shull, Water Program Specialist for DEP. “They are an excellent way to
gauge how healthy a particular section of stream or river is, and help
DEP meet our obligations for monitoring water quality. This kind of
biological assessment helps DEP see and assess long-term, cumulative
effects of stressing factors on an ecosystem.”

Not all streams and rivers are created equal, and DEP has developed
unique macroinvertebrate collection methods for freestone streams,
limestone streams, and low-gradient streams. DEP uses these differing
methods to get a complete picture of how many, what type, and how
healthy the invertebrates are in any given habitat.

“DEP and partners have collected thousands of samples, and collect
hundreds more every year to continue to deepen our knowledge base on the
health of Pennsylvania’s waters,” said Shull.

See examples of the different streams types, the methods used to sample them, and results of the sampling by visiting Looking Below the Surface, DEP’s interactive story map on benthic macroinvertebrates.

“This type of research is vital to decision-making that goes on at DEP,”
said DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell. “We use the data collected and
analyzed by program staff when we’re looking at how to clean up
watersheds and improve water quality in backyards and communities across
Pennsylvania. And we want to make sure that Pennsylvania residents can
see the data we’re collecting, so they can know more about what is
happening in their own area.”

Monday, November 27, 2017

The New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife will have a new tool to
use in its ongoing efforts to enforce wildlife laws as the state joins
the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact, Department of Environmental
Protection Commissioner Bob Martin announced today.

The compact, first developed in western states in the
mid-1980s, recognizes the importance of deterrence through the
suspension of hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses and privileges in
all member states resulting from violations concerning the pursuit,
possession or taking of a wide range of wildlife, including mammals,
birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, mollusks, shellfish, and
crustaceans. New Jersey’s membership will begin on December 1.

“This cooperative and proactive interstate strategy will greatly
enhance our Division of Fish and Wildlife’s ability to protect and
manage our wildlife resources,” said Commissioner Martin. “Any person
who has their license privileges suspended in one member state may now
also have them suspended in all other member states. In addition, the
compact prevents convicted poachers who are under revocation in one
state from hunting, fishing, or trapping in other states.”

For the purposes of the compact, the term “license”
means any license, permit, or other public document which conveys to
the person to whom it was issued the privilege of pursuing, possessing,
or taking any wildlife regulated by statute, law, regulation,
ordinance, or administrative rule of a participating state.

License and privilege suspensions resulting from
wildlife violations committed on or after December 1, 2017 in New
Jersey may result in the reciprocal suspension of license privileges in
member states. If a person plans to hunt, fish, or trap in another
state, and has a license privilege suspension in New Jersey, it is
their responsibility to contact the other state to verify if they may
legally hunt, fish, or trap there.

New Jersey residents who fail to comply with the terms
of a citation or summons issued for a wildlife violation in another
member state may face a $50 fine and the suspension of all privileges
to take or possess wildlife in New Jersey until the citation has been
satisfied. Failing to appear in court or to otherwise answer a ticket or
summons issued for such violations will also result in license,
permit, and privilege suspension.

“Our agency has been charged with managing New Jersey’s
wildlife resources for 125 years and we take this responsibility very
seriously,” said Division of Fish and Wildlife Director Larry
Herrighty. “Joining the compact protects New Jersey’s wildlife
resources and that of member states by deterring violators from
continuing their illegal activities and sends a clear message to all
that such behavior will not be tolerated.”

The concept of a wildlife violator compact was first
advanced in the early 1980s by member states in the Western Association
of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. In 1985 draft compacts were developed
independently in Colorado and Nevada. Subsequently, these drafts were
merged and the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact was created.

More information on the Compact, including which states are members and
which violations with prescribed suspensions will be recognized in New
Jersey and shared with member states is available on the Division of
Fish and Wildlife website at: www.njfishandwildlife.com/violators_compact.htm

Tuesday, November 21, 2017

Flood Study Could Help Advance Resiliency Projects

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)
Commissioner Basil Seggos announced that the State will provide up
to $50,000 for a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers study in the Sullivan
County hamlet of Livingston Manor. Funds will be used to undertake the
Livingston Manor Flood Control Feasibility Study. The funding was
secured with assistance from Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther.

"As climate change fuels more intense and frequent storms that
threaten communities and infrastructure across the state, DEC experts
are on the frontlines everyday assisting local governments in planning
for and advancing important flood resiliency projects," said DEC
Commissioner Basil Seggos. "The Livingston Manor Flood Control
Feasibility Study will not only protect this community, it will also
improve the natural resources in the Catskills, which are critical to
the economic vitality of the region."

"The people who live in Livingston Manor have worked so hard to
rebuild and repair flood damage time and time again," Assemblywoman
Gunther said. "This study will help find a solution that works for
everyone."

"It is with great satisfaction and anticipation that we have been
waiting for such needed support from our state agencies. I can't say
enough about our Assembly Women Aileen Gunther, who has witnessed
first-hand, the devastation of flooding to our communities. Time and
time again. We have been working with the ACOE and the DEC for some time
now to develop a plan to reduce flooding in our area. Our small town
atmosphere is a driving force for many new businesses, and the
assistance from our state agency will help bring about positive change,
and continued growth for those who look for a more healthy lifestyle and
quality of life," said Rob Eggleton, Supervisor, town of Rockland.

A joint effort by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DEC, the town of
Rockland, the Livingston Manor Flood Control Feasibility Study was
originally initiated in 2009. In 2016, the study was re-envisioned to
focus solely on flood control, which required additional funding. In
October 2017, DEC committed to providing up to $50,000 to finalize the
study.

DEC is currently working with the U.S. Army Corps to finalize a
contract for the project. The study is anticipated to be completed in
2018. Following completion of the study, the U.S. Army Corps will begin
the design and construction phase of the project with federal, State and
local funding.

Saturday, November 18, 2017

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection released the following statement from Deputy Commissioner Paul Rush.

“New York City is pleased that the Decree Parties today committed to a
long-term agreement that balances the myriad interests connected to the
Delaware River. The 10-year program protects public health for millions
of Americans by sustaining their supplies of high-quality drinking
water. The agreement also expands efforts to enhance flood attenuation
and support the outdoor recreation economy of the upper Delaware River
through the protection of its natural ecology and wild trout fishery.

“Importantly, the new agreement was built upon untold hours of
scientific work and data analyses that aimed to advance the interests of
all stakeholders without detriment to any of them.

“That work does not end here. The new agreement requires the Decree
Parties to pursue a number of scientific studies related to salinity
intrusion in the lower Delaware River, the calculation of water
available to be released downstream of New York City’s reservoirs, and
other topics related to the natural resources of the basin.

“New York City will approach the work ahead with the same spirit of
collaboration that yielded the new flow-management program today.”

Friday, November 10, 2017

150,000 Public Comments in Support of Menhaden Protection Announced; Most Public Comments Ever Delivered to ASMFC!

(New York, NY Nov. 10, 2017) A record number of Americans are urging
the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Council (ASMFC) to support
protection of Atlantic Menhaden in their upcoming decision. Over 150,000
Americans sent public comments in favor of strong Menhaden protections
during the recently completed public comment period. The ASMFC will meet
November 14th to decide on Amendment 3—a proposal to provide
stronger protections for Atlantic Menhaden that takes into
consideration the important role the “most important fish in the sea” plays as both a source of food for other species and filterer of water.

“From striped bass anglers and fishing captains to whale watchers and
bird enthusiasts, the varying interests across the east coast that
support managing menhaden to account for their importance to ocean
ecosystems shouldn’t come as a surprise. Anyone who pays close
attention to life in the water has seen first-hand just how important
this fish is, and wants to see the species conservatively managed,” said
Zach Cockrum, Northeast Regional Representative for the National
Wildlife Federation.

The Commission’s Atlantic Menhaden Management Board will meet
November 13‐14, 2017 to consider approval of Amendment 3 to the
Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Menhaden and set
specifications for the 2018 fishing season.

Atlantic menhaden (Brevoortia Tyrannus) play a central role
in the ecological and economic vitality of the Atlantic coastal
ecosystem as an essential food for whales as well as important
commercial and game fishes (striped bass, bluefin tuna, bluefish,
weakfish, tarpon, sharks), and a host of other marine wildlife. Menhaden
play a key role in the regulation of regional water quality by
filtering phytoplankton; its food source and a major cause of algae
blooms and brown tides.

Tuesday, October 10, 2017

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Survey Preliminary Findings Show Importance of Increasing Access to Public Lands

T he U.S. Department of the Interior announced a new report by the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service that shows that 101.6 million Americans—40
percent of the U.S. population 16 years old and older—participated in
wildlife-related activities in 2016, such as hunting, fishing and
wildlife-watching.

The survey illustrates gains in wildlife watching—particularly
around the home—and fishing, with moderate declines in the number of
hunters nationally. The findings reflect a continued interest in
engaging in the outdoors. These activities are drivers behind an
economic powerhouse, where participants spent $156 billion—the most in
the last 25 years, adjusted for inflation.

“This report absolutely underscores the need to increase public access to public lands across the United States,” said U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke. “Hunting
and fishing are a part of the American heritage. As a kid who grew up
hunting and fishing on public lands who later took my own kids out on
the same land, I know how important it is to expand access for future
generations. Many folks east of the Mississippi River rely on friends
with large acreages or pay high rates for hunting and fishing clubs.
This makes access to wildlife refuges and other public lands more
important.”

On his first day in office, Secretary Zinke reversed an order
that would have banned lead ammo and fishing tackle on National Wildlife
Refuge lands, and he began the process of expanding hunting and fishing
opportunities on public lands across the Department.

In
August, the Secretary announced a proposal to expand hunting and fishing
opportunities at 10 national wildlife refuges, and he announced the
initial stages of a plan to acquire land to make the Bureau of Land
Management Sabinoso Wilderness Area accessible for the first time ever
to hunters, hikers and wildlife watchers.

In addition, Secretary Zinke recently made recommendations to
President Trump on 27 national monuments that call for changes to some
that, while still protecting the land, would also protect and expand
public access to that land for citizens who want to hunt, fish and hike
and experience the joy and beauty of these special places.

The survey, the 13th in a series conducted nearly every five
years since 1955, shows that the most substantial increases in
participation involve wildlife-watching—observing, feeding and
photographing wildlife. The report indicates these activities surged 20
percent from 2011 to 2016, from 71.8 million to 86 million participants
during that time. Expenditures by wildlife watchers also rose sharply—28
percent—between 2011 and 2016, from $59.1 billion to $75.9 billion.
Around-the-home wildlife-watching increased 18 percent from 2011, from
68.6 million in 2011 to 81.1 million participants in 2016. More modest
gains were made for away-from-home wildlife watchers: 5 percent increase
from 2011 to 2016, from 22.5 million to 23 million participants.

More Americans also went fishing. The report indicates an 8
percent increase in angling participation since 2011, from 33.1 million
anglers to 35.8 million in 2016. The greatest increases in
participation—10 percent—were seen in the Great Lakes area. Total
expenditures by anglers nationwide rose 2 percent from 2011 to 2016,
from $45 billion to $46.1 billion.

Hunting participation dropped by about 2 million participants but
still remained strong at 11.5 million hunters. Total expenditures by
hunters declined 29 percent from 2011 to 2016, from $36.3 billion to
$25.6 billion. However, expenditures for related items such as taxidermy
and camping equipment experienced a 27-percent uptick, and hunting
trip-related expenses increased 15 percent.

Regarding the decrease in participation in hunting, Zinke said:
“Hunters and anglers are at the backbone of American conservation, so
the more sportsmen and women we have, the better off our wildlife will
be. Some of our wildlife refuges have great mentored hunting programs.
I'd like to see these programs replicated and expanded across the
country and reach into areas where kids don't traditionally get the
opportunity to hunt, fish and? ?connect with wildlife. Some of my best
family time growing up and raising my own kids was hunting an
elk, enjoying a pheasant, or reeling in a rainbow. These are the
memories and traditions I want to share with future generations.”

“No one does more for our wildlife and or wild places than
hunters. Any decline in hunting numbers, real or perceived, is of great
concern since hunting provides the lion’s share of funding for
nationwide conservation work thanks to excise taxes on firearms,
ammunition and archery equipment that garner more than $1.6 annually,” said David Allen, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation president and CEO. “The
RMEF remains committed to growing and ensuring the future of our
hunting heritage as well as elk, other wildlife and their habitat.”

This year’s survey also gathered two new categories of data:
archery and target shooting. Findings show there are more than 32
million target shooters using firearms and 12.4 million people engaged
in archery, not including hunting.

“Hunters and anglers form the foundation of wildlife conservation
in the United States, consistently generating more funding for habitat
and wildlife management than any other source,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Principal Deputy Director Greg Sheehan.
“Industry, federal and state fish and wildlife agency initiatives that
focus on hunter and angler recruitment, retention and reactivation are
crucial to sustaining these conservation dollars and ensuring the next
generation of wildlife enthusiasts have the opportunity, access and
awareness to pursue these time-honored American traditions.”

“I praise Secretary Zinke for his support of hunting and land
access. The hunting and shooting sports community is grateful for an
administration that recognizes the economic, recreational and
traditional values of hunting and target shooting," said John Frampton, President and CEO of the Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports. "Although
the numbers of hunters have declined, we are optimistic they will
rebound as a result of Secretary Zinke's leadership, state wildlife
agencies, non-government organizations and industries working together.
Hunting in this country is not only part of our national heritage, it is
an important to our country’s economy, as indicated by the expenditures
in the survey.”

As a partnership effort with states and national conservation
organizations, the survey has become one of the most important sources
of information on fish and wildlife recreation in the United States.
Federal, state and private organizations use this detailed information
to manage wildlife, market products, and look for trends. Conducted by
the U.S. Bureau of the Census, the survey is based on a 22,416-household
sample surveyed through computer-assisted telephone and in-person
interviews.